Exhausting apparatus



July 30, 1935; c, A. DUNHAM 2,009,387

EXHAUSTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 18, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I lgla 7 Q r N w .Imkm'iFr 1572 Azania/ z 4 I 0 mm wfi mp July 30, 1935. c. A. DUNHAM 2,099,337

EXHAUSTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 18, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill - or Li y/(5; A film/ Hm own cys- Jafiy 30, 1935. Y c. A. DUNHAM 2,009,387

EXHAUSTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 18, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inxfefffar I ornglrgsg July 30, 1935. c. A. DUNHAM 2,009,387

EXHAUSTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 18, 192:5 5 She\ets- Sheet 4 y 9 1935- r c. A. DUNHAM I 2,009,387

EXHAUST ING APPARATUS Original Filed 001;. 18, 1923 5 She ets-Sheet 5 Imf 811E;

Patented July 30, 1935.

UNITED STATES 2,009,387 sxnAos'rmq APPARATUS Clayton A. Dunham, Glencoe, lll.-, assignor to C. A.- Dunham Company, Marshalltown, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Original application October 18, 1923, Serial No.

Divided and this application September 14, 1931, Serial No. 562,759

4 Claims. (Cl. 103-12) This invention relates to an evacuating apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for creating a partial vacuum in a conduit or vessel or system of connected conduits, vessels or spaces by means of a circulating body of hurling water or other liquid so as to withdraw from said conduit or other' space air or other gases, vapors, liquids or mixtures of gases and liquids.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel and improved means whereby, in the case of mixtures of gases and liquids, the gases drawn into the hurling circuit are eliminated purpose of accumulating such liquid. A further object is to provide means whereby the operation of the exhausting apparatus is.

made dependent upon the vacuum created in the pendent upon the difierence in pressure as between this space and a higher pressure, so that the apparatus will operate to maintain a pre determined (though adjustable) minimum differential in pressure as between said spaces.

The invention consists of the new and improved constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects -and such other incidental objects as will be referred to in the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

This application is a division of the copending application of Clayton A. Dunham, Serial No. 669,363, flled October 18, 1923 now Patent No. 1,983,218, granted December 4 1934. The present application shows that portion of the heating system disclosed in application Serial No. 669,363 which is concerned with the production of a vacuum, the control of the evacuating apparatus and the instrumentalities employed for separating air or gases from the water of the hurling circuit .and delivering excess of water in the hurling circuit to the steam boiler. The heating, system as such is not claimed herein, such heating system forming the subject matter of application Serial No. 669,363. The apparatus disclosed herein might obviously be employed either as a whole'or with respect to certain feaamount of liquid in a receiver provided for the 'space to be evacuated or, more particularly, de-' tures thereof otherwise than in connection with a steam heating system; in fact, in any situation where it is desired to withdraw gases, liquids or mixtures of gases and liquids from a conduit or space, separate the gases, if any, from the liquid 5 and introduce the liquid into a vessel.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, looking fromthe right at Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central section through the jet exh'auster. I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation, partially in vertical section, through the differential controller mechanism for maintaining constant difference of pressure between the supply and re-' turn sides of the exhausting system.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the upper portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, but with the parts in a diflerent position.

Fig. 8 is an elevation, partially in longitudinal vertical section, showing the device for venting air or gases from the hurling liquid circuit.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section, taken substantially on the line 99-of-Fig'. 8.

Fig. 10is a vertical section taken substantially on the line l0-l0 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram showing the controlling circuits.

Referring first to Figs. land 2, D is a-pipe leading from a space to be evacuated of its fluid contents, air and water for example. I is a receiver for the fluid passing through pipe D. The receiver is provided with an outwardly opening check valve K. L indicates a hurling water pipe circuit, one leg of which extends through without communicating with the receiver I. In the circuit L is arranged a centrifugal pump M (although a reciprocating pump might be used instead) and a jet exhauster N, which latter operates to draw water from receiver I into the hurling circuit through pipe 0 provided with a check valve P opening in the direction of the jet exhauster. The hurling w-atr circuit also contains a separating tank Q for eliminating air and gases from the hurling water. R is a controlling device for governing the motor S which operates pump M. This controller has a dual function. 5

exhausting sive to difference of pressure as between pipe D or receiver I and a predetermined higher pressure,such as the pressure in the hurling circuit,

so as to maintain a substantially constant, but adjustable, pressure differential as between the contents of these spaces and to never permit this pressure differential to fall materially below a predetermined minimum. It also startsand stops the pump in accordance with changes in the water level in receiver I.

Referring for the moment to Fig. 12, T indicates a source of supply of current for the pump motor S, U a circuit breaker operating through control mechanism R by means of a float in vessel- I, V a circuit breaker operated through controller R to maintain the aforementioned pressure differential, and W is a hand operated switch for putting the differential control into or out of action.

The hurling water circuit L is composed of a pipe I08 extending from top to bottom through the water tank I (but not in open communication therewith, a T I09 on the top of the tank, a hollow fitting H0 which supports the tank (the latter having a flanged neck I I I which rests upon the fitting I I0), a pipe section I I2 preferably provided with a shut-off valve II 3, constituting the induction pipe of the centrifugal pump M, a pipe section II4 leading to the jet exhauster N, a pipe section II5 leading from the jet exhauster to the vent trap Q, and a pipe section I I6 connecting the tank Q with the T I09. When the pump M is in operation, water is driven continuously through this hurling circuit as above described.

Water is drawn into the hurling circuit from tank I through pipe 0 and check valve P by means of the jet exhauster N (see Fig. 4) which is preferably constructed as follows: The jet nozzle of the exhauster comprises a member II1 secured by union II8 to the eduction pipe I I4 of pump M and formed with a contracted throat at H9 and with a diverging passageway I20. A casing I2I is secured to the enlarged end I22 of jet member I-I1by means of a union I23, pipe 0 being tapped into the side of this casing. Projecting through the casing is a nozzle member I24 having a I threaded end I25 screwed into the end of nozzle member H1. The bore .of nozzle member I24 is preferably of uniform diameter. The receiving tube of the jet exhauster is composed of two members I26, I21 having atight flt one with the other, member I26 having a threaded connection with a boss I28 on casing I2I. The throat of member I 26 is flared as-indicated-at I29, the main portion of the bore I30 being of uniform diameter. Thepassagewaylfl through member I21 is of gradually increasing cross sectional area as is common with jet exhausters. An enclosing pipe section I32 is secured to boss I28 by union I33 and to pipe section I I5 by union I34. The water of the hurling circuit may be quite hot and'as a result, if ajet exhauster of ordinary construction were used, diminution in kinetic energy of the jet would result from the tendency of the warm water to expand in throat I29. That is, with warm water and an ordinary nozzle in use instead of the one shown there'would be less contraction of the jet issuing from-nozzle member I24 than with cold water. By the construction shown the expansion is controlled in member I I1 so that the heat released as a result of the pressure change within the nozzle is utilized to increase the kinetic energy of the water particles as a result of the expansive action andwhen the water issues from the straight portion of the nozzle, that is member I24, it comes in a coherent stream which passes across the suction space in casing I2I and enters the flared portion of member I26 as a homogeneous jet.

The separating tank Q for ridding the water of the hurling circuit of entrained air or gases preferably comprises a casing I35 provided at one end with a separately formed closure plate I36 secured to the body of thecasingby bolts I31. Secured to the inside of the cover plate is a casting I38 provided with a forked bracket I39 to which is pivoted at I40 the arm I4I of a float I42. Casting I38 is formed with a port I43 in alignment with an opening I44 in the cover plate stated, leads to the casing of the trap, being.

shown as tapped into a boss I52 on one end of the casing. Preferably the casing is formed with an interior bafile web I 53 arranged in front of the water inlet Pipe I I6 leads from the lower part of the casing I35 to the T I09.

The pipes H6 and Y normally lie below the water level in the closed vessel (for example the boiler of a heating system) into which the excess liquid is forced from the hurling circuit. Therefore there will normallybesufficientaccumulation of water in casing I35to hold the float I42 elevated, as shown in Fig. 8, with the vent valve I closed. Air and other non-condensable gases from the hurling circuit will accumulate in the upper portion of separating tank I35, and when a sufflcient quantity of these gases have been collected in this tank the water level will be forced down thereby thus permitting float I42 to open the valve I45 and permit the escape of a portion of these gases. The-excess water which is drawn into the hurling circuit from tank I is forced from the circuit through T I09 and through pipe Y.

The motor S which intermittently drives pump M is controlled through changes in the level of the water accumulated in tank I by the float controlled mechanism which is preferably constructed as follows (see particularly' Figs. 2,3; 5, 10, 11 and 12): I54 is a float in the tank I arranged on an arm I55 which is secured to a shaft I56 within the housing ex tension I51 formed on a plate I58 secured to the side of the tank I, the lever passing. through an opening I59 in plate I58 to the inside of the tank. The shaft I56 is journaled in a stufling bo'x I56 through which it projects from housing I51 and in a bracket arm I56 formed on plate I58. A crank arm I60 on shaft I56 is connected by a link I60 with a trip I6I which latter is pivoted at I 62 to the side of a casing I63 which is supported on a shelf I64 projecting outwardly from plate I58. 0n pivot stud I62 is mounted a weight I65 adapted to be moved back and forth a slot MI in the side wall I12 ofcasing I63 (Fig.

5) and through a slot I13 in a rocking member The weight I 65 is' provided witha stud- I10 which projects through ,ofthe casing. The rocking member the upper end of which carries a rod I85.

I14 which'is pivoted at I15 to the side wall I12 I14 is provided with across bar I18 on which is arranged, with the interposition of suitable insulation I11, 9. pair of contact shoes 41 48 (diagrammatically shown in Fig. 12). The contact shoes 46, .41 are provided with extensions I18 connected by .conductors I 18 to binding posts I88. The line wires 48, 48 (Fig. 12) are connected with the binding posts I88. The shoes 41, 48 are adapted to bear against a pair of contacts I8I supported on inclined ledges I82 on the upper ends of standards I83 mounted on an insulating block I84 in the casing. On the standards I83 are binding posts I85 to which are connected the pump motor leads 48 to 4 I. The contacts I8I are held in place on the standards by means of guide studs I86 fixed to the ledges I82 and extending loosely through the contacts and through an upper pair of contacts I81 (for the differential control) andby set screws I88 extending through the upper andlower contacts and into the ledges I82, coiled springs I88 being interposed between the upper and lower contacts of each pair. With this arrangement a yielding pressure is exerted between the contact shoes 41 and 48 and contacts I8I, and also between the coacting pairs of contacts for the diiferential control to be hereinafter described.

Operation of the float cntr0Z.When the level of the water in tank I falls, the float lever I55 is rocked raising link I68 and bringing trip I8I against stud I88 on the tilting weight I 85. The weight is thus swung from right to left (Fig. 2) until it passes the vertical, whereupon it falls to the left until stopped by the bumper or stop member I 81. weight brings stud I18 (Fig. against the'righthand end of slot I13 in the rocking switch member I14, thus rocking the switch member to the right so as to separate contact shoes 41, 48 from the cooperating pair of contacts I88 by a quick snap movement. With the contact shoes 41, 48 bearing against the contacts I8I the pump When pump motor is stopped unless it is receiving currentover the circuit controlled by the pressure difl'erential controlled mechanism which will next be described. The differential control mechanism'ior con-' trolling the pump motor S so as to maintain a desired difierenoe of pressure as between the space from which fluidsare withdrawn, and the space into which liquid is forced is preferably constructed as follows (see Figs. 2, 5, 6, 7, and 11) I88 is a diaphragm casing supported on the bracket-plate I 58 on the side of tank I. The casing contains a flexible diaphragm I8I under which is arranged a spring I8I a rod I82 being fixed to the diaphragm and extending through a stufling box I83 and attached to a yoke JI84, A lever I88 is pivoted-at I81 to a standard I88 on the diaphragm casing and extends through yoke I84 which has knife edge bearings I88 on which the lever fulcrums. The lever I88 carries a at 281 to thecasing I88, the bellcrank extending into the casing through a slot. 288 in the side thereof. A. second belicrank 288 is pivoted .to a bracket H8 in the casing and to upper end Thisfalling movement of the of the upstanding arm 2| I of this bellcra'nk is secured a cross bar-.2I2 carrying contact shoes 38, 42 (diagrammatically shown in Fig. 12),

which are adapted to bear against the pair of contacts I81 previously described. The other arm 2I3 of the bellcrank-projects out through slot 288 in the side of casing I88 and has a forked 228 on the arm 2I8 of bellcrank. 288. The lower compartment of the diaphragm casing I 88 is connected by a pipe 224 with the high pressure side of thesystemat some convenient point, the pipe being shown as extending into the fitting II8 which forms part ofthe hurling circuit. The upper compartment of the diaphragm casing I88 is connected with the low pressure side of the apparatus by a pipe 225 which is shown as tapped into the tank I.

Line wires 38, 48 are connected withbinding posts 228 (Fig. 10). From these binding posts extend a pair of wires 22.1 to the binding posts 228 on the contact shoes 88, 42, wires 221 being guided by a cross member 228on the bellcrank 2. In order to insure proper electrical connection between the standards I83 and the contacts. I 8| and I81, wires 288 and 28I are provided which extend to these contacts respectively from binding posts 232 on the standards.

Operation of thedifierential control mecha- 'm'sm..' The diiiere'ntial control is put into or out of operative;connection with the apparatus by closing or opening hand operated switch W (Fig. 12). So long as the difference in pressure between the high and low pressure spaces is less than that which the apparatus is intended to, maintain, the contact shoes 38, 42 bear upon contact members I81 so that the pump motor is supplied with current through line wires 88', 38 and 43, 45, and motor leads 48, 4I. With switchW closed the system is subject to the differential control regardless of whether the float controlleg switch U is opened or closed. If the balance of pressures on diaphragm I 8| is disturbed either by increase of pressure under the diaphragm or by diminution of pressure above ,the same" to increasethe pressure difl'erential over that for which the controller is set, 1 the diaphragm is deflected upwardly against the action of weight 288, the position of which on lever I85 rocks the bellcrank 285 but without disturbing the position oi. bellcrank 288 so long as the hook 222' bears upon the lug 223 on bellcrank 288. During this initial upward movement of rod I85 spring 2I8 is compressed. The spring 2I8 is in fact compressed to a certain extent when the parts are in the intermediate position shown in Fig. 5. 'As soon as the upward move- 'ment of the rod releases the hook 222 from thelug 223, bellcrank 288 is given a sudden rocking arm I88 determines the pressure diflerential to be maintained. The upward movement of rod movement by the force of spring 2 I 8which moves the contact shoes 38, 42 away from contact I81 with a snap action, thus'preventing arcing. The spring 2I8 which is'compressed more than spring 2I8 gives sleeve 2I5 a movement of greater am.-

contact as shown in Fig. 7. The pump motor circuit governed by the differential controlling mechanism is now broken and the motor stopped, unless there is an excess of water in tank I, in which case the pump will continue to operate because of the closed position. of the float.

controlled switch U.

When the balance of pressures on diaphragm I9I is restored, rod I95 is moved back to its normal position. During the first part of this movement hook 222 passes under lug 223 keeping ,the contacts in their separated position and compressing spring 226. When the hook clears the lug, bellcrank 209 is given a quick movement through action of spring 2I6 which moves the contact shoes 39, 42 against contacts I8'I closing this circuit.

The apparatus is preferably providedwith a gauge 248 (Fig. 2) by which the difference in pressure between the high and low pressure sides of the system may be ascertained. This gauge is connected through pipes 234 and 225 with the low pressure side of the system and through pipe 235 with the high pressure side.

The operation of this exhausting apparatus may be summarized as follows: Circulation of liquid through the hurling circuit L, brought about by the operation of pump M, creates a partial vacuum in the exhausting chamber I2I of the jet exhauster N which draws fluids from the receiver I through pipe 0. This creates low pressure in the receiver I producing the evacuation of pipe D and the space connected therewith 'lates to a certain level, float I54 sets the pump motor in operation so as to bring about discharge of water from the receiver through the hurling circuit and discharge-pipe Y. When the differential pressure control is made operative through closing of hand operated circuit breaker W, the pump is kept in operation whether there be any'water in the receiver I or not to bring about the continued evacuation of pipe D so long as .the difference in pressure as between the inlet and discharge sides of .the system does not exceed the differential at which the controller is set to operate. Under the conditions last mentioned, that is with no accumulation of water in receiver I, air and water or possibly. air alone willbe drawn into the hurling circuit through pipe 0. The air is eliminated through vent I43 of the air separating tank which now comes into play. Inasmuch as the horizontal discharge pipe Y is at or below the water level of the vessel into which water is discharged, the hurling circuit is kept filled with water. without regard to accretion from vessel I.

When the pressure differential exceeds that for which the controller is set, the pump is stopped until the desired pressure differential is reestablished, provided however that no stoppage of the pump takes place if and so long as the water level in the receiver I is high enough to require the discharge of water therefrom. When the pump is not operating-check valve P prevents water backing through pipe 0 into receiver 1.

It will be noted that this improved evacuating apparatus and its control mechanism is so regulated that it shall operate at such times, and only at such times, as may be necessary to maintain a desired pressure differential between two spaces, and to expel an excessive accumulation of liquid from the system. When the evacuating apparatus is in operation, both of these functions may be performed simultaneously. Ordinarily the intermittent operation of the apparatus for the purpose of maintaining the desired pressure differential will also be sufiicient to withdraw the accumulated liquid and expel from the system the excess quantity not needed for the hurling circuit. However, there may be cccasions when an excessive accumulation of liquid must be forced out from the pumping system even though the necessary pressure differential has already been established. On the other hand, it may be necessary to operate the evacuating apparatus for the purpose of maintaining the pressure differential even though there is no excessive quantity of liquid accumulated in' the system. A single automatically operating control apparatus for the motor is provided whereby the operation of the motor, and consequently of the evacuating apparatus, is made responsive both to changes in the pressure differential and also to changes in the liquid level in the receiving receptacle. The motor will be automatically caused to function whenever the operation of the evacuating means is desirable for-maintaining either or both the predetermined pressure differgases will automatically escape through the vent valve K. Ordinarily the pressure in receiver I will be below atmospheric and the vent K will remain closed. At such times gases will be drawn into the hurling circuit through pipe 0 and the jet exhauster N along with the liquid, and will then accumulate in the separating tank Q until a.suflicient quantity has collected therein to lower the water. level and open the vent I44, whereupon a portion of these gases will escape.

It will thus be apparent that this improved evacuating apparatus operates automatically to either simultaneously or separately as conditions may require perform all of the following functions: (1). Withdraw all fluids, both gases and liquids from a first space; (2) maintain the pressure in this first space lower, by a predetermined pressure differential than the pressurein a second space; (3) propel into the second space the excess liquid withdrawn from the first space and not I required for the operation of the hurling circuit in the evacuating apparatus; (4) vent from the system all gases withdrawn from the first space.

I claim:

1. In combination, an evacuating apparatus comprising a closed hurling circuit, a jet exhauster in the circuit, and a pump in the circuit for causing a flow of liquid through the exhauster, means for driving the pump, a receiver in which liquid is accumulated, a conduit leading from the receiver to the exhauster through which conduit fluids are drawn from the receiver into the hurling circuit, means for venting gases from the circuit, 76

means including a conduit leading from the hurl ing circuit for discharging excess liquid from the ,circuit, and controlling mechanism for the pump driving means, said mechanism including means for starting the pump wheneverthe pressure difierential between the receiver and hurling circuit has fallen below a predetermined minimum or whenever a predetermined volume. of liquid has accumulated in the receiver, and for stopping the pump when both the pressure differential has been reestablished and the excess liquid has been withdrawn from the receiver. a

2. In combination, an evacuating apparatus comprising a closed hurling circuit, a jet exhauster in the circuit, and a pump in the circuit for causing a flow of liquid through the exhauster, means for driving the pump, a.receiver in which liquid is accumulated, a conduit leading-from the receiver to the exhauster through which conduit fluids are drawn from the receiver intothe hurling circuit, means for venting gases from the circuit, means including a conduit leading from the hurIingIcircuit for'discharging excess liquid from the circuit, and controlling mechanism for the, pump driving means, said mechanism including means for starting the pump whenever the pressure in the receiver has risen above a pre='- determined maximum or whenever a predetermined volume of-liquid has accumulated in the 'receiver, and for stopping. the pump when both the pressure in the receiver has been lowered below the predetermined maximum and the excess liquid has been withdrawn irom the receiver.

3. In combination, an evacuating apparatus comprising a closed hurling circuit, a jet ex-' hauster inthe circuit, and a pump in the circuit for causing a flow of liquid through the exhauster,

means for driving the pump, a receiver in which liquid is. accumulated, a conduit leading from the evacuating apparatus! being started by operation of either controller but stopped only when both controllers are in stopping positions.

4. In combination, an evacuating apparatus comprising a closed hurling circuit, a jet exhauster inv-the circuit, anda pumpinrthe circuit for causing a gflow of liquid through the exhauster, means for driving the pump, a receiver in which liquid is accumulated, a conduit leading from the receiver to the exhauste'rthrough which conduit fluids are drawn from the receiver into the hurlingcircuit, means for venting gases from the circuit, means including aconduit leading from the hurling circuit for dlscharging'excess liquid from the circuit, and controlling mechanism for the pump driving means, said mechanism including a controller operable to start or stop the pump as the pressure in the receiver respectively rises above or falls below a predetermined pressure, and a second controller operable to start or stop the pump as the liquid level in the receiver respectively rises above or falls below certain predetermined levels, said controlling mechanism functioning to start the evacuating apparatus by operation of either controller, but stopping the evacuating apparatus only when both controllers are in stopping position.

' CLAYTON A. DUNHAM. 

